KDN To Mobilise Post-flood Volunteers - Saifuddin

ALOR SETAR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry (KDN) will mobilise volunteers in a post-flood relief mission to assist with repair and infrastructure restoration at institutions affected by the disaster.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said KDN has the advantage in terms of assets that will facilitate clean-up operations such as high-powered water pumps and water cannons.

"KDN volunteers through the Insan MADANI initiative will help restore institutions such as mosques, houses of worship, halls and schools.

"We will also focus on cleaning the area, including bulk waste such as cupboards and damaged furniture which needs to be managed efficiently," he told reporters after visiting the temporary evacuation centre (PPS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Tinggi near here, today.

According to him, he also held a meeting at the Kedah police contingent headquarters (IPK) to plan the post-flood mission in the state.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said the National Registration Department (JPN) director-general had also been instructed to launch the 'Menyemai Kasih Rakyat' programme to replace personal identification documents such as identity cards and birth certificates lost due to the flood, free of charge.

"Vehicles such as buses and vans will be placed in strategic locations to facilitate flood victims. The director-general of Immigration has also agreed to implement the same initiative for documents such as passports," he said.

He added that as of last night, the Inspector-General of Police had informed that there was a downward trend in the number of families and flood victims being evacuated.

"This decrease can be seen in line with the weather conditions that have improved over the past two to three days, compared to the more critical conditions on Friday and Saturday.

"I asked to personally inspect the situation at the PPS. Our main focus at the moment is the health situation, the provision of food and drink as well as the coordination of agencies and volunteers," he said.

Meanwhile, he said his ministry also wanted to express its appreciation to all parties who ensured that flood victims were safely evacuated and received basic needs at the PPS, including food and health treatment.

-- BERNAMA